Elementary, junior high schools to be assigned social workers

The Japan Times
Monday, Jan. 7, 2008
Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080107a3.html

Kyodo News--The education ministry is planning to place social workers at public elementary and junior high schools across the nation in the next fiscal year to help deal with problems affecting children and families ranging from domestic violence and neglect to bullying.

According to ministry sources, the social workers will help alleviate burdens on teachers in the face of problematic behavior by children, and to establish a framework to provide expert help on a permanent basis.

The social workers are expected to serve chiefly as coordinators between schools and relevant institutions, the sources said.

They will be looking into situations of children or families with serious problems and seek cooperation from police, volunteer groups, welfare or other institutions depending on the need of each case.

The ministry is also eyeing the possibility of the social workers advising needy families on applying for welfare benefits or other financial support so their children can stay in school, the sources said.

The plan will cover all 47 prefectures. Each prefecture will be divided into three districts and the social workers will be assigned to schools in each of the three districts.

The ministry is planning to recruit people licensed to provide welfare services and counseling in clinical psychology, as well as people versed in administrative services and other people with a track record of providing professional advice on nurturing children or parenting.

The Japan Times
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Public elementary, junior high schools to get social workers

Japan Today
Monday, January 7, 2008 at 06:51 EST
Source: http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/424337

TOKYO — The education ministry is planning to place school social workers at public elementary and junior high schools across the nation from fiscal 2008 to help resolve serious problems associated with children and families ranging from domestic violence and child neglect to bullying, according to ministry sources.

The ministry is hoping to help alleviate burdens on teachers in the face of growing problematic behavior by children, and to establish a framework to provide expert help on a permanent basis, the sources said. The social workers will be looking into situations of children or families with serious problems and seek cooperation from police, volunteer groups, welfare or other institutions depending on the need of each individual case, the sources said.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is planning to recruit people licensed to provide welfare services and counseling in clinical psychology, as well as those people versed in administrative services and other people who have a track record of providing professional advice on nurturing children or parenting.

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